Digital Data Storage Apparatus, Digital Data Storage Method, Digital Data Storage Program Recording Medium, And Digital Data Processing System

Abstract

A digital data storage apparatus includes a digital data input unit that receives an upload of digital data, a digital data storage unit that stores the uploaded digital data, an authentication data generation unit that generates authentication data to associate with the stored digital data for accessing the digital data, an authentication data output unit that outputs the generated authentication data, an authentication data input unit that inputs authentication data together with identification data that identifies a download destination, an authentication unit that authenticates the input authentication data, and a digital data output unit that downloads, if authentication is successful, the digital data that has been associated to the authentication data to the download destination that is identified by the identification data.

1 . A digital data storage apparatus comprising:
 a digital data input unit that receives an upload of digital data;   a digital data storage unit that stores the uploaded digital data;   an authentication data generation unit that generates authentication data to associate with the stored digital data for accessing the digital data;   an authentication data output unit that outputs the generated authentication data;   an authentication data input unit that inputs authentication data together with identification data that identifies a download destination;   an authentication unit that authenticates the input authentication data; and   a digital data output unit that downloads, if authentication is successful, the digital data that has been associated to the authentication data to the download destination that is identified by the identification data.   
   
   
       2 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the authentication data generation unit generates, for each stored digital data, the authentication data that can uniquely identify the digital data.   
   
   
       3 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the authentication data generation unit generates the authentication data formed from a character string that can be transmitted in an electronic mail body.   
   
   
       4 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the authentication data output unit outputs the generated authentication data in electronic mail.   
   
   
       5 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the authentication data generation unit comprises an encryption unit and generates the authentication data that is encrypted by the encryption unit.   
   
   
       6 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the encryption unit performs encryption using a key that can be decrypted only by the digital data storage apparatus.   
   
   
       7 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the authentication data output unit outputs the generated authentication data to an upload origin of the corresponding digital data.   
   
   
       8 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the authentication data output unit outputs the generated authentication data to a set other party.   
   
   
       9 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the digital data input unit receives a password that is input from an upload origin of the digital data;   the authentication data input unit also receives a password that is input from an input origin of the authentication data; and   the digital data storage apparatus performs authentication of the input origin on the basis of both input passwords.   
   
   
       10 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a charge unit that performs charging for usage of the digital data.   
   
   
       11 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the digital data to be downloaded is a print document.   
   
   
       12 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the download destination is an image forming system.   
   
   
       13 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the authentication data input unit inputs the authentication data from the image forming system at the download destination.   
   
   
       14 . A digital data storage apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the digital data input unit receives command data for print setting that is input from the upload origin of the digital data;   the authentication data input unit receives command data for print setting that is input from the input origin of the authentication data;   the digital data storage apparatus comprises a command data generation unit that generates command data for print setting to be adopted on the basis of both received command data for print setting; and   the digital data output unit also outputs the generated command data for print setting to the image forming system.   
   
   
       15 . A digital data storage method, the method comprising:
 receiving an upload of digital data;   storing the uploaded digital data;   generating authentication data to associate with the stored digital data for accessing the digital data;   outputting the generated authentication data;   inputting authentication data together with identification data that identifies a download destination;   authenticating the input authentication data; and   downloading, if authentication is successful, the digital data that has been associated to the authentication data to the download destination that is identified by the identification data.   
   
   
       16 . A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for digital data storage, the processing comprising:
 receiving an upload of digital data;   storing the uploaded digital data;   generating authentication data to associate with the stored digital data for accessing the digital data;   outputting the generated authentication data;   inputting authentication data together with identification data that identifies a download destination;   authenticating the input authentication data; and   downloading, if authentication is successful, the digital data that has been associated to the authentication data to the download destination that is identified by the identification data.   
   
   
       17 . A digital data processing system comprising: a digital data input unit that receives an upload of digital data to be printed;
 a digital data storage unit that stores the uploaded digital data;   an authentication data generation unit that generates authentication data to associate with the stored digital data for accessing the digital data;   an authentication data output unit that outputs the generated authentication data;   an authentication data input unit that inputs authentication data together with identification data that identifies a download destination;   an authentication unit that authenticates the input authentication data;   a digital data output unit that downloads, if authentication is successful, the digital data that has been associated to the authentication data to the download destination that is identified by the identification data; and   an image forming system that is the download destination and prints the digital data that is downloaded.   
   
   
       18 . A digital data processing system according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the authentication data input unit inputs the authentication data from the image forming system at the download destination.   
   
   
       19 . A digital data processing system according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the digital data input unit receives command data for print setting that is input from the upload origin of the digital data;   the authentication data input unit receives command data for print setting that is input from the input origin of the authentication data;   the digital data storage apparatus comprises a command data generation unit that generates command data for print setting to be adopted on the basis of both received command data for print setting; and   the digital data output unit also outputs the generated command data for print setting to the image forming system.